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Mikaela Shiffrin searches for her inner Bode

Mikaela Shiffrin searches for her inner Bode

Going into the FIS Ski World Cup this weekend in Killington, Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin is a jumble of emotions.

“What you see on my face," she said, copping to feeling the pressure while meeting the media Friday night, gives away exactly what she’s feeling – “nerves, excitement, happiness, some frustration." Shiffrin, who called the East Coast crowd some of the most “honest" people she’s ever encountered, hopes the fans who line up to see her “share in that journey with me."

Shiffrin, who’s dominated World Cup skiing for the last three years, has reason to be out of sorts. She came in a disappointing second in this year’s first slalom race – “I was not happy with second place." Still, she’s glad the World Cup has returned to the East Coast for the second consecutive year. Skiing in Europe, things are “perfectly perfect," she said. But the East, is “perfectly imperfect," filled with ruts and potholes that appeal to her nature.

Shiffrin, who lives in Colorado, has deep roots and her entire family here. That includes her grandmother – her Nana – who is joining her clan to cheer her on for the second time.

Also facing the media were members of the American team: Resi Stiegler, Paula Moltzan and Tricia Mangan. Invited to ask a question of “surprise guest,’’ Italy’s Sofia Goggia, she asked, “Do you like Bode Miller?" Shiffrin explained, that while commentating on her race, Miller said he saw a lot of his calm in Goggia. “I was so jealous," said Shiffrin.